"Míriel was the name of his mother, who was called Serindë, because of her surpassing skill in weaving and needlework; for her hands were more skilled to fineness than any hands even among the Noldor."

Míriel Þerindë (Q, pron. [ˈmiːri.el θeˈrinde]), also spelled Serindë (pron. seˈrinde]), was the first wife of Finwë, King of the Noldor. Her son was Curufinwë, whom she called Fëanáro, which means "Spirit of Fire". Miriel's hair was described as being silver in appearance, an unusual colour for one of the Noldor.

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Míriel lived in the blessed realm of Aman, in the hill city of Tirion on Tuna, together with her husband Finwë High King of the Noldor. Her hands were skilled in the shaping of fine things, and she was unsurpassed in weaving and needlework.

There was much love between Míriel and Finwë, and even more for her son, but after giving birth to Fëanor in Y.T.1169[2], her body and her spirit were consumed and she wished to be released from life everlasting, saying that there was no strength left in her to bear another child. Despite Finwë's grief, and her unhappiness at abandoning her young child, Míriel departed for the gardens of Lórien, to rest and regain her strength and vigour. But during her rest, the fëa departed from her body, and entered the Halls of Mandos leaving her body laying lifeless and still in Y.T.1170[2]. Maidens of Estë took care of her body while her spirit remained in the Halls Of Mandos, so that it would not wither. In essence, she had died of free will. This was seen as a shocking event by the Valar and Eldar which had never before occurred. Manwë allowed Finwë to take another wife given these exceptional circumstances.[3]

After the death of Finwë, Míriel was granted permission to return to life, where she entered the service of Vairë, her task to record all the deeds of the House of Finwë.[4]

The name Míriel means "Jewel-daughter" in Quenya, from mír ("jewel") and -iel ("daughter"). Her epessëÞerindë, or Serindë in the Quenya of Tirion, means "the Broideress", referring to her great skill in embroidery for 'her chief talent was a marvelous dexterity of hand'[5] which she applied to her skill of embroidery, 'achieving in what even the Eldar thought haste' embroidery that 'was finer and more intricate than any that had before been seen'[6]. It was her Mother Name[7]. It is to be noted that she preferred and requested her kin use the older pronunciation of Þerindë be used, and that her son upheld the use of Þ over s out of respect and in her memory[8].

In the beginning of The Shibboleth of Fëanor, Fëanor is an adult, and Míriel is still alive. There the similarities between mother and son, such as their stubbornness, are revealed. Fëanor's reaction to his mother's death is also presented, as he guarded her hröa, which was placed in a garden, for some time after her passing.[9] In the published Silmarillion, Míriel died soon after birth.[3]